US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Kerala's famous backwaters in Alappuzha, taking a houseboat cruise on Vembanad Lake and watching traditional snake boat teams practise ahead of the upcoming Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Gor was accompanied by businessman Michael Boulos, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The delegation travelled aboard a luxury houseboat through the waterways around Punnamada and took in views of Kerala's palm-lined backwaters while sampling local cuisine.

Gor described the experience as "absolutely incredible" in remarks following the visit.

Houseboat Cruise on Vembanad

The visit took place on Vembanad Lake, one of Kerala's major backwater destinations and the venue for several traditional boat-racing events.

The delegation travelled on a Spice Routes luxury houseboat, allowing the visitors to view the waterways around Punnamada and nearby areas.

The outing combined tourism with a cultural experience, as the visitors observed one of Kerala's most distinctive traditional sporting activities.

Snake Boats in Practice

A major part of the visit was watching chundan vallams, commonly known as snake boats, during practice sessions ahead of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

The long traditional boats were seen moving across the lake as teams of rowers practised their synchronised strokes.

Gor and Boulos reportedly photographed and recorded the training sessions during their cruise.

The Nehru Trophy race is among Kerala's most prominent traditional sporting events and draws large crowds to Punnamada every year.

Meetings in Kochi

The backwater visit followed official engagements in Kochi, where Gor met Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan and other state officials.

Discussions reportedly covered potential areas of cooperation between the United States and Kerala, including higher education, technology and port infrastructure.

Speaking after the visit, Gor said the delegation's morning had begun with a meeting with the Chief Minister before moving on to discussions around areas where cooperation could be expanded.

“Our morning started with a meeting with the Chief Minister... exploring a range of promising opportunities together — especially in higher education, technology, and the development of port infrastructure,” he said.

Tourism Gets Attention

The visit has also attracted attention from Kerala's tourism sector, particularly because of the international profile of the visitors.

Alappuzha's backwaters are among Kerala's best-known tourism destinations, with houseboat cruises forming a major part of the region's tourism economy.

The delegation's visit comes as preparations continue for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, bringing additional attention to the state's traditional boat culture and the annual sporting event.

Interest in Kerala Visit

The visitors reportedly expressed interest in returning to Kerala with their families for a longer stay.

For the state's tourism industry, such visits can provide international visibility for destinations beyond major cities and established tourist circuits.

The combination of diplomatic engagements in Kochi and a cultural visit to Alappuzha also highlighted the broader people-to-people and economic links that can accompany India-US engagement at the state level.

Nehru Trophy Preparations

With teams continuing their preparations for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the sight of snake boats practising on Vembanad Lake has become a regular feature in Alappuzha.

The race remains closely linked with Kerala's traditional boat culture and attracts participants and spectators from across the state and beyond.

Gor's visit has therefore placed the backwaters, chundan vallams and the upcoming race in the international spotlight at a time when Kerala is preparing for another major edition of the event.